After Sri Lankan bowlers dominated proceedings on Day 1 of the ongoing second Test against Bangladesh in Colombo, Day 2 belonged entirely to the batters—led by an exceptional knock from opener Pathum Nissanka and a composed innings by Dinesh Chandimal.
Having posted a modest total in their first innings, Bangladesh needed early breakthroughs to stay in the contest. However, their bowlers failed to capitalize on the opportunity as Sri Lanka’s top order stood firm. Only Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan managed to claim one wicket each, while the rest of the attack remained largely ineffective.
Opening the batting, Nissanka delivered a clinical performance. At stumps on Day 2, he remained unbeaten on 146, showcasing patience and precision throughout his innings. His opening stand with Lahiru Udara yielded 88 runs before Udara was dismissed for 40 off 65 balls.
What followed was a massive 194-run partnership between Nissanka and Chandimal, which put Sri Lanka firmly in control of the game. Chandimal, who played a steady hand at the other end, narrowly missed out on a century, falling for 93—just seven runs short of a well-deserved hundred.
Nissanka continues his dream form with back-to-back tons
Nissanka’s knock marked his second century of the series. In the first Test, he scored a commanding 187 and has now followed it up with another masterclass, continuing his purple patch in red-ball cricket.
At stumps on Day 2, Sri Lanka stood at 290/2 after 78 overs, already leading by 43 runs. Nissanka will resume batting on Day 3 alongside Prabath Jayasuriya, with Sri Lanka looking to extend their lead and put the match beyond Bangladesh’s reach.
